A man threatened to "chop up" and kill his partner during a terrifying attack that left her fearing for her life.
John Anthony Groves carried out two attacks on his partner after an argument broke out about who had given her a lift home on May 21 this year. The 35-year-old threw a bag of scrap metal in her direction, cut her leg with a knife and verbally abused her, calling her "fat" and "greasy". Groves also hit her many times to the face and left her fearing for her life before hitting her in the back of the head with the handle of a kitchen knife.
Groves, of Sycamore Street, Ashington, appeared at Newcastle's Moot Hall via link to be sentenced for two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was convicted of the offences after a trial.
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Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said Groves had been in a relationship with the woman - who is still supportive of him - since 2018, but they had known each other around 15 to 20 years. On May 20, the woman had been out for drinks with friends and returned home to find Groves sitting at the kitchen table.
Mr Ahmad said: "There was an argument throughout the night...the argument was about him being paranoid she was with someone else and he pushed her against the end of the kitchen unit, causing scratches to her arm. He verbally abused her and a scrap metal bag was thrown at her. He picked up a knife and he caused a superficial cut the back of her leg."
The court heard that following the attack, the woman went to bed at around 4.30am. But later that morning, before getting out of bed, Groves hit her forehead with his hand. Mr Ahmad said: "He was verbally abusive, calling her fat, greasy, ungrateful and a sl**. He later assaulted her again in the kitchen, he punched her and threw her to the floor. He hit her to the face and as she was lying on the floor he got on top of her, pinning her down, and hit her approximately five times to the side of her face."
The court was told that the woman feared for her life, but managed to stop the attack by grabbing Groves' crotch. It was then that Groves picked up a kitchen knife and hit her to the back of the head with the handle, causing swelling. Mr Ahmad said: "He then went to grab a saw and said he was going to chop her up and kill her. She laughed in his face and left and went back to bed."
Groves then asked the woman if the police were going to be called and left when she said they would be. She then went to a neighbour's home and the police were called before Groves was arrested. The court heard he had 12 previous convictions for 21 offences, with many being for violence.
Mark Styles defending, said the woman was still "supportive" of Groves and that they "remain in contact". He said: "Despite their difficulties, they are an item." He said Groves has struggled with alcohol abuse and said he was hoping to move to County Durham to start a new life. Mr Styles added: "They've got friends in Durham and they plan to move away to re-establish themselves...he wants to put this behind him and move on with life."
Sentencing Groves, Recorder Mark McKone KC, said: "It is no comfort to the court to know the two of you are still in a relationship. I regard it as likely you will assault her again once you leave prison...you have a distorted understanding of relationships with women. You believe you should control what time your partner gets home." Groves was jailed for two and a half years.
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